Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

740.00119 Control (Germany)/12–345: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, December 3, 1945—8 p.m.
[Received 9:45 p.m.]

12651. In lengthy discussion Villiers and Brandt of MEWFO (reference Department’s 10409, November 30⁴⁸) expressed strong personal preference for Department’s draft model note (Deptel 9901, November 10 to London, repeated 5257 Paris) and consequently they feel Paris draft note (Angell’s 45 November 12 to Department⁴⁹) should be dropped. However they strenuously contested Washington as place for negotiations (Embtel 12569, December 1 to Department⁵⁰ repeated 763 Paris). We emphasized Washington as situs because maximum pressure could be exerted there upon neutral representatives. Villiers and Brandt felt that even if neutrals agreed, this would require more time to complete negotiations because neutral negotiators would have to refer back to their Governments on every important point. Our reply was that even if this were true we preferred Washington … Once having obtained favorable results from the Swedes, we would be in a far better position to insist upon our demands with the other neutrals. We have emphasized that Department will be adamant on this point and our impression is that Villiers and Brandt may well give way. Accordingly we urge that Department, in any discussion with British Embassy insist upon Washington as situs negotiations.

2. Villiers endeavoring clear Department’s model note immediately with other interested British agencies. If latter agree, Villiers concurs that British and French notes should follow Department’s note very closely.

3. Subject to clearance with other interested British agencies, Villiers and Brandt agree with paragraph 6 Deptel 10216, November 23 to London (repeated Angell 45⁵¹) that we take Swedes first in our negotiations, Swiss second, Spanish third and Portuguese fourth. They emphasized, however, that notes to these four countries should be presented simultaneously. They are reluctant, however, to include in their notes any definite date for negotiations but would include in Swedish note request for immediate negotiations.

Sent Department as 12651, repeated Paris for Angell 770.

Winant

48. Not printed.
49. Telegram 6557 from Paris, not printed.
50. Not printed; it conveyed MEWFO’s feeling that the discussions with the neutrals should be held in the respective neutral capitals (740.00112 EW/12–145).
51. Same as telegram 5468, supra.